Kerosene-burner.



H. LEMP.

KBBOSENE BURNER. Arrmonlox rmx mln 1o, moa.

Patented July 6, 1909. 2 sums-snm 1.

` Inerwtor Hermann Lemp Ooit-,messes EVM .21k-g @qu Amm. s. Gamm so, Mmmm vuhlmou, l' c.

H. LEMP. KEBOSENE BURNER. Arrmouron rmsn JUNE 10,1903.

Patented July 6, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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In erwtor Hermann Lem @Y UNITED STATESIATEN T OFFICE.

HERMANN LEMP, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

KERO SE NEI-BURNER.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HERMANN LEM?, a citzen of the United States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Kerosene-Burners, of which the following is a specification.

In operating kerosene burners for powergenerating systems utilizing large quantities of oil at high pressure it is of the utmost impoi-tance that the liquid fuel shall enter the vaporizer at its coolest point and gradually increase in temperature to the burner opening. In this manner all danger due to carbonization or "cracking is eliminated. Under certain conditions, such for example as in stopping while the parts are very hot, and at the same time greatly reducing the size of the burner opening, there is a tende` ency for the burner to pulsate. This is due to the fact that the high pressure on the vapor causes the column of liquid to surge back and forth in the supply pipe and permit the liquid oil to come in contact with the very hot surface of the vaporizer, thus suddenly and greatly increasing the pressure and increasing the surging. A burner will also pulaste if liquid fuel is entrained with the vapor and permitted to strike on a very hot surface, because the vapor pressure is thereby suddenly and greatly increased. Pulsating is objectionable chiefly because it is liable to extinguish the 'llame when a minimum amount of fuel is being used, and also because of the disagreeable noise accompanying it.

I have discovered that I can improve the operation of kerosene burners and also obviate pulsating by providing two or more vaporizers and connecting4 them in multiple to deliver vapor to a single burner opening of relatively restricted area. The liquid fuel is supplied simultaneously to the vaporizers at their coolest points and gradually increases in temperature to the point of delivery. By providing vaporizers and connecting them as described, the tendency of one vaporizer to cause pulsation is opposed by the other. To state it in a different way the pulsations in the two vaporizers, instead of being in phase or assisting each other, are bucking or opposing one another, and as a result the effect on the burner is practically nil. This arrangement further has the advantage of providing an enlarged vaporizing surface Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 10, 1903.

Patented July 6, 1909.

Serial No. 160,848.

which is capable of supplying the maximum amount of superheated vapor necessary for operation.

y Some Objection is raised to starting a kerosene burner with kerosene on account of the length of time re uired, and also on account of the disagreeab e odor incident thereto. I have provided a means whereby the burner Vwhen used with an automobile or other boiler may be started in the stable or building containing the vehicle or other mechanism Without loss of time and without objectionable odor. In carrying out this feature of my invention an auxiliary gas burner is provided that forms a permanent part of the main burner, and can, by means of a flexible pipe, be connected to a suitable source of gas supply. The auxiliary gas burner is so arranged that the flames therefrom heat a vaporizing tube or tubes on the main burner. After the proper temperature is reached the kerosene oil is admitted in the usual way, and the necessary vapor is generated. For starting the burner out of doors, or where gas is not obtainable, a starting wick is employed which is fed from the main supply of kerosene. The auxiliary burner and wick can be used in conjunction or separately.

Certain other features of my invention will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

ln the accompanying drawings, which represent one embodiment ol' my invention, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a burner with certain of its parts in section; Fig. 2 is a view in elevation taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. l with the inclosing casing in section 5 Fig. 3 is a plan view of the burner g Fig. 4 is a detail showing means for starting the main burner; and Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the way the vaporizers are connected.

In the drawing, 1 represents a suitable casing that surrounds the burner and also the boiler tubes (not shown) which are supported by the laterally extending tubes 2 that are attached to the side walls of the casing. The lower end of the casing is closed in by a plate, base or cover 3. The plate and also the inner walls of the casing are lined with asbestos or other heat-insulating material 4.

In order to prevent pulsations of the burner, and also to provide an enlarged vaporizing surface for the liquid fuel, vaporizers 5 and 6 are provided which rise verti- M im. LLA

cally at right angles from the bottom plate 3 for a short distance, and then incline toward each other.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to any specified number of vaporizers, the essential feature being to have them arranged to deliver to a common point so as to prevent pulsation.

The vaporizers are united by a head 7 at a point directly over the burner opening, and are preferably made out of steel, as I have found that cast iron, when used for this purpose, pits, owing to the chemical action of the kerosene vapor on the iron; and this pitting causes the vaporizer to fill with sediment. The object in inclining the tubes is to prevent, as far as possible, the entraining of the liquid with the vapor, and by this arrangement the active surface of the vaporizer is automatically varied as the burner flame varies. That is to say, when the flame is small the upper portions only of the tube are hot, but as the pressure on the vapor system increases the 'Hames will strike or envelop more and more of the inclined tubes, and the area or zone of heated metal will be increased. The lower ends of the tubes are screw-threaded to supports 8, which are attached to the base plate in any suitable manner. lt is to be noted that the lower end of each tube is surrounded by a casing 9, that is filled with some material which is a nonconductor of heat. The object of this arrangement is to maintain as great a temperature difference as possible between the oil within the vaporizer and that in the supply pipes. The supports 8 are connected to the supply pipes in a manner to be hereinafter described. l have found it advantageous to make the head or union 7 between the two tubes out of forged steel, and to electrically weld the tubes 5 and 6 thereto, so as to avoid leaky oints.

To the under side of the connector 7 is detachably secured a baflle plate 10 comprising a horizontally-extending head having a smooth and slightly beveled under surface against which the vapor in a solid stream or column is projected and diverted laterally toward the vaporizing tubes, at the same time causing it to mix with the proper amount of air to support combustion. Extending upwardly above the baffle plate is a screw-threaded shank or steel whereby it is attached to the head 7. Intermediate the nozzle and vaporizers the vapor stream is deflected by the baffle plate, the said stream entraining air to make a highly inflammable mixture, as it is to about leave or after it leaves the periphery of the baffle plate. Between the periphery of the baffle plate and the adjacent surfaces of the vaporizers the vapor is ignited. This ignition can take lace only after the vapor has been spread by the deflector to cause it to mix with sufficient air to support combustion. The space immediately surrounding the nozzle and baille plate may be divided into two parts, which I term the carbureting and combustion zones, which zones are concentric. The space between the end of the nozzle and the deflector may also be said to be a part of the carbureting zone. To state the matter in a di'derent way, there is a zone extendingl from the nozzle orifice to the baffle plate and for a short distance below the baffle plate and around the baflie plate, in which the air is mixed with the vapor', and outside of this zone and surrounding` it is a zone in which combustion takes place. The vapor leaves the burner orifice under high velocity and if the baffle plate is too near or too far from the end of the nozzle the liame will be yellow and give off smoke, thus rendering` the burner useless for the purpose intended. Moreover, under such conditions the heat produced by the burner is greatly decreased. l have found that if the baffle plate is suddenly rcmoved and there is nothing to act as a baifler, the flame will go out due to the high velocity of the vapor stream. By experiment I have determined that the space between the end of the nozzle and the baffle plate should not be more than one and onehalf inches or less than three-fourtl'is of an inch to obtain the best results, and further that the vaporizers must be in a position to be affected by the blue flame of the burning mixture. lt follows therefore that the carbureting and combustion zones must and do bear a definite relation to the baille plate and vaporizers, and in these matters my improved burner differs from others. l have found by a series of careful experiments that the most satisfactory metal to use for these baffle plates is pure nickel. It must be smooth on the under side, or the side presented to the nozzle opening. The baffleplate being of nickel will maintain its original smoothness irrespective of the velocity of vapor j et and the degree of temperature of the vapor without becoming pitted or roughened as has been found to be the case with various other metals after a short period of use.

Secured to the base or plate 3 is a tray l] which surrounds the vertically-extending tube 12 that carries the burner nozzle 13. The nozzle is made detachable, and is provided with a single opening of relatively restricted area. The object in providing the tray 1]. is to catch. the oil. which overflows from the nozzle in starting and permit the wick 29 to absorb it. The nozzle-carrying tube contains a rod 14 which carries the needle 15. The latter is intended to enter the opening` in the nozzle 13 and restrict the amount of vapor delivered thereby. The needle is not intended to completely close the nozzle or burner opening at any time, but to act only as a restriction. The lower end of the rod 14- is provided with a suitable stui'ling-box to prevent vapor' escaping at this point. Situated below the base plate is a support 16 in which is pivoted the arm 17 that actuates the needle.

Referring' to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the head or union 7, between the vaporizing tubes, is connected to a U-shaped pipe or tube 18, the latter being connected to the tube 12 that carries the burner nozzle. The tube 18 can, with advantage, be covered by a non-conducting covering at the portions which lie in the combustion zone of the main burner so as to prevent overheating, This tube is ot' smaller size and hence more easily heated than the vaporizing tubes and 6, so as to insure the pro er vaporization of the fuel before it enters t e burner. The lower portion of the tube which is not covered, extends parallel with the base and with an extension on the tray 11. In the extension of the tray is provided the wick 29 that may be used for starting the burner into operation by flooding the tray with kerosene oil from the burner nozzle 13. In addition to this a separate or auxiliary means is provided, whereby the burner can be started into operation by the use of ordinary illuminating gas when it is desired to make a quick start, and the objectionable odor incident to starting with kerosene is obviated. This auxiliary starting means, best shown in Fig. 3, comprises a tube 20, which is U-shaped and is closed at one end, and adapted to be connected to a source of supply at the other. The adjacent portions of the tube are provided with holes 21 for permitting the gas to escape. The tube is provided with an extension 22, Fig. 2, to which a piece of rubber hose can be attached. Under ordinary conditions this starting device is used only when the vehicle or other apparatus to which the burner is attached can be connected to a suitable source extraneous to the vehicle, as for instance a gas pipe connected with the city main. The side of the casing is provided with a hinged door 23, by means of which a match can be inserted to start the auxiliary burner into operation.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, kerosene in liquid form enters the first vaporizer by the pipe 24, which pipe is also extended as at 25 to the second vaporizing tube G. Between the two vaporizers is a coupling 26 by means of which one oi the vaporizers can be cut out of service if desired, and it also facilitates the assembling and repairing of the parts. Connected to the vaporizers by a pipe 27 is a gage 28, for indicating the pressure on the fuel system.

In Fig. 4 the tray 11 is shown in position under the lower portion of the U-shaped gas-burner tube 20. Extending downwardly from the sides of the tray and through an opening in the base plate is the wick 29, by

means oil' which the regular startingl device can be put into operation..

ln order to support combustion, it is necessary to admit air to the lower part of the casing. This has been commonly done by making holes in. the sides of the casing and providing detlector plates which directed the air currents downward to a point below the burner nozzle, so that the air and vapor would properly mix. l have Found that while this acts to direct the air currents downwardly, it is unsatisfactory, in that it permits of cross drafts. That is to say, a blast of wind will strike one side ot the casing and cause air currents to pass through the opening across the bottom of the casing and out the openings on the opposite side. This action also causes the burner ilame to pass through the openings on the side opposite to that from which the blast comes and burn the body ot the vehicle. 1 propose to overcome this objectionable feature by a novel arrangement of dei'lector plates, whereby cross-drafts are prevented, yet the proper amount of air is caused to mingle with the vapor.

rlhe sides of the casing are closed, and extending therefrom are inwardly inclined deflector plates 30. rlhese plates can, with advantage, be attached to the side walls oithe casing, although any other' convenient sup port can be employed. Openings 32 are provided in the bottom plate oi the casing which are situated directly under the projecting ends oi` the plates. Between the end oi each plate and the adjacent side wall is located a second deflector plate 31 overlap ping the first, which is preferably, although not necessarily, inclined to the base. "lhe efhect of this arrangement is to cause the air currents to flow upwardly for a short distance, and to then turn and ilow downwardly into the interior ol the casing. By reason ol' this construction the air currents are compelled to follow a zig-zag path hence no opportu nity is aforded lor cross-drafts, as in the case above referred to. The path o'll the air currents is clearly indicated by the arrows, Fig. 1.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, l have described the princi ple oi' the operation oi' my invention, together with the apparatus which l now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof g but l desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

Vhat l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent oi' the United States, is,

1. In a burner, the combination ol" a support, a plurality ol' vaporizing tubes having their inlet ends mounted on the support, a nozzle centrally located between said ends, the vaporizing tubes inclining upwardly from their' inlet ends to iorm an apex above the cui nozzle, a conduit leading from the apex to the nozzle, means supplying fuel to the vaporizer tubes to flow through them in multiple to said apex and conduit, and a baffle-plate arranged above the nozzle and between it and said apex against which the stream of fuel from the nozzle strikes and is deflected laterally toward the vaporizing tubes.

2. ln a burner, the combination of a nozzle having a discharge opening, vaporizers which are spaced apart and inclined toward each other at their upper ends, a head uniting the upper ends of the vaporizers above the nozzle, a tube of smaller cross-section and more easily heated than the vaporizers which is connected with the head and the nozzle to supply vapor under relatively high pressure to the latter, and a baffie-plate arranged in cooperative relation to the nozzle with its periphery separated from the vaporizers by a space forming carbureting and combustion zones, said baffle-plate being so closely adj acent the nozzle that it receives the stream of vapor delivered under said pressure from the nozzle umnixed with air, breaks up the stream and defiects the particles to mix with the air in the carbureting zone and burn in the combustion zone.

3. 1n a burner, the combination of a support, a nozzle mounted on the support, a plurality of vaporizing tubes having their inlet ends disposed about the nozzle, said tubes inclining upwardly and inwardly toward an apex above the nozzle, a head which unites the tubes at the apex, a conduit leading from the head to the nozzle, means supplying fuel to the inlet ends of the vaporizing tubes, and a baffle-plate arranged between the converging ends of the tubes above the nozzle against which the stream of fuel from said nozzle strikes and is deflected laterally toward the vaporizing tubes.

4. ln a burner, the combination of a support, a nozzle mounted on the support and projecting upwardly therefrom, two vaporizing tubes having their inlet ends mounted on the support on opposite sides of the nozzle with their axes in a plane passing through the axis of the nozzle, said tubes inclining upwardly and inwardly from their inlet ends toward said axis, an axially arranged head above the nozzle which unites the upper ends of the tubes, a conduit located in a plane transverse to the plane of the vaporizing tubes which connects the head with thc nozzle, means supplying fuel to the tubes to flow through them in multiple to said head and conduit, and a baffle-plate mounted on the head and centrally located between the converging ends of the tubes above the nozzle, against which the stream of fuel from said nozzle strikes and is deflected laterally toward the vaporizing tubes.

5. In a jet burner, the combination of a casing, a nozzle, vaporizing tubes connected thereto and in multiple with each other, a body of non-conducting material surrounding the receiving ends of the vaporizers to maintain a difference in temperature between the fuel inside and outside of the casing, a single source of supply connected to the vaporizers, and a baffle plate supported in close proximity to the nozzle.

6. 1n a burner, the combination of a casing, a nozzle, an auxiliary starting burner, a supply pipe, vaporizers connected thereto and in multiple relation with each other, nonconducting protectors for the receiving ends of the vaporizers to maintain a difference in temperature between the fuel inside and outside of the casing, a tube connected to the vaporizers for conveying vapor to the nozzle, and a baflie plate supported in close proximity to the burner nozzle.

7. The combination of a burner of the jet type, an inclosure therefor comprising side walls, a base plate supporting the burner which forms one or more air admitting openings between its edges and the side walls, upwardly extending baffle-plates on the base plate adjacent the openings, and downwardly extending baffle-plates which overlap the other baffle-plates and cooperate therewith to deliver the incoming air to the burner and to prevent cross currents through the inclosure.

8. The combination of a burner of the jet type, an inclosure therefor comprising side walls, a base plate supporting the burner which is turned upwardly within the casing at one or more of its edges to form baffleplates and cooperating with the adjacent side walls to form air admitting openings, and baffle-plates which extend downwardly from the side walls to overlap with the upwardly extending baffle-plates and coperating therewith to direct the incoming air to the burner and to prevent cross air currents through the inclosure.

9. 1n a jet burner, the combination of a supply pipe, a casing, vertically rising vaporizers, protecting shields for the receiving ends of the vaporizers for maintaining a difference in temperature between the fuel inside and outside of the casing, a non-conducting packing for said shields, a head connecting the vaporizers, a baffle plate secured to the head, a nozzle, a tube connecting the vaporizers and head with the nozzle, and a heat protective covering for the tube.

10. 1n a burner, the combination of a base plate, a vapor discharging nozzle supported thereon, means for vaporizing liquid fuel, a connection extending from said means to the nozzle having the portion adjacent the nozzle disposed parallel to the base plate, an auxiliary burner which comprises a tube located below and parallel to the portion of said tube adjacent the nozzle, and means for supplying fuel thereto.

ll. In a burner, the combination of a nozzle, a base, vaporizers mounted on the base with their receiving ends on opposite sides of the nozzle and their delivery ends inclined toward a point centrally over the nozzle, means joining` the delivery ends of the inclined portions of said Vaporizer in multiple, a connection between said means and the nozzle for supplying it with Vapor, a support adjacent said means, and a baffle-plate on the support about the periphery of which the vaporizers are grouped at a distance therefrom, said plate being located in line with the nozzle and intermediate the receiving and delivery ends oi' the vaporizers.

l2. In a burner, the combination of a nozzle, a plurality of Vaporizing tubes extending upward over the nozzle and inclined toward each other, a head uniting the upper ends of the inclined tubes at a point centrally over the nozzle, a vaponcarrying conduit leading from the head to the nozzle, a stud project ing downward from the head, and a circular baffle-plate on the end of the stud about which the Vaporizing tubes are grouped which is of less diameter than the space between said tubes, said plate being` located centrally over the nozzle at a short distance therefrom.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of June, 1903.

HERMANN LEMP.

Vitnesses:

DUGALD MCK. MOKILLOP, JOHN A. MoMANUsu 

